The post, written by journalist Paul Kirk, noted: “Please come back PW Botha – you were far more honest than any of these ANC rogues, and you provided a far better service to the public ...”

Political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi has weighed in on the furore surrounding a the repost that praised PW Botha saying it has damaged the DA brand but was not different to veteran journalist Allister Sparks comment admiring Hendrik Verwoerd at a DA conference.

Matshiqi said that the DA was being expedient in disciplining Kohler-Barnard because of the negative affect her repost had on the DA brand.

“What matters is that you have among black South Africans people to whom it reinforces a pre-existing perception that the DA is a party of white interest,” he said.

The ANC has also weighed in calling for Kohler-Barnard to be fired from Parliament.

“A person who holds such backward, dangerous and racially divisive views cannot continue to serve in this democratic Parliament,” said ANC parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said in a statement.

He said if the DA does not fire her it would continue to “give rife to the observation that the DA is an apartheid party that uses black people to window-dress its deep-seated racism and white supremacy”.

Maimane and former party leader Helen Zille said Kohler-Barnard’s actions were indefensible and would be subject to an internal disciplinary process. Maimane said the DA does not support any views that welcome Botha.

The post by @DKB20 is indefensible. She has withdrawn it and apologized.
now our internal disciplinary processes will be dealing with this.